Dual wheel assembly



Dec. 22, 1942. c. s. ASH 2,305,836

I DUAL WHEEL ASSEMBLY Filed Dec. 14, 1940- 2 Sheets-Sheet l provision of an improved wheel construction in Patented Dec. 22, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DUAL WHEEL ASSEMBLY Charles S. Ash, Milford, Mich.

Application December 14, 1940, Serial No. 370,113

14 Claims. (Cl. 301-36) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in dual wheels for automotive vehicles and more particularly to improvements in bearing construction of dual wheel assemblies.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be setforth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements hereiri'sh'own' and described,

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate several modifications of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 20

Of the drawings: I

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section partly inclevation of a dirigible, driven, dual front wheel assembly showing one embodiment of the-in,-

vention;

Fig. 2 is a face view of a differential pinion ring forming a part'of the dual wheel driving means;

Fig. 3 is a face view of one of the bearing rings; a

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary axial section showing a pinion support as employed in the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section similar to Fig. 1 but showing a modified form of bearing ring construction; and n Fig. 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal section partly in -elevation of a dirigible non-driven dual wheel assembly embodying another form of the invention.

The present invention has for an object the provision of a novel and improved dual wheel assembly for automotive road vehicles which may be used with dirigible or non-dirigible, driven or non-driven dual wheels. A further object is the which the bearings may be easily and accurately adjusted to compensate for wear. Still another object of the invention is the provision of a wheel construction for driven dual wheel in which improved thrust bearings are provided for the driving members.

It'will be understood that the foregoing general description, and the following detailed de- 55 scription as well, are exemplary and explanatory of. the invention but are not restrictive thereof.

Referring now in detail to the embodiment of the invention illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, a front axle beam is provided comprising a housing I formed to include at its central portion a difierential'drive (not shown) and having at each end a hollow spherical knuckle 2. Mounted on the knuckle 2 by means of an upper and lower king pin joint is a spindle supporting ring 4 upon the outboard face of which is secured a non-rotatable hollow spindle 5 as by screws 6 and flange 1. The up per and lower king pin connection between the knuckle 2 and the spindle 5 comprises upper and lower shouldered pins Ill axially alined and secured in knuckle 2, and having their outer ends mounted and supported in ball bearing units H which are carried in recesses l2 formed in the spindle ring 4.

Plates l3, are secured by cap screws l5 over the recesses'l2 in the spindle ring 4 and, by

'means of shims l6, properly space and retain ,in axle housing I, and having itsoutboard endformed as one element of a suitableuniversal joint 21, shown here conventionally as a Marmon- Herrington joint. The other element of the universal joint 21 consists of a live stub shaft 28 which projects into the hollow interior of spindle 5 and has mounted thereon an inwardly splined hub 29 of a driving flange 30, key slots 3| being provided in the outboard portion of shaft 28 to cooperate with splined hub 29. Driving flange 30 is attached by stud bolts 32 to a hub member 33 upon which the dual wheels are rotatably mounted and which in 'turn is journalled upon the spindle 5 by means of roller bearings, 35 which may be held in operative position in the usual manner as by retainer nuts 36 threaded upon the end of spindle 5.

Means are provided whereby the dual wheels may be mounted upon hub 33 to permit differential relative rotation thereon, allow adjustment upon the hub to compensate for wear or other maladjustment, and attain sturdy bearing facilities for each wheel. As embodied, there is provided near the outboard end of hub 33 a bearing ring 46, having a split 4| at one point in its circumference of such width as to engage a key 42 carried by the hub whereby the ring 46 may be moved longitudinally upon hub 33 but cannot rotate thereupon. The outer periphery of bearing ring 46 is a tapered surface 43, facing inboard, and constituting th bearing surface upon which is mounted the outboard wheel 44, the hub portion 45 of which is provided with a correspondingly tapered bore. At the inboard end of hub 33 there is provided a second bearing ring 46 similar to ring 46 but having its tapered bearing surface 4'| facing outwardly. A key 42' provided in the hub 33 and engaging the split-in ring 46 prevents r tation of the ring upon the hub. The ring/46, contrary to ring 46, is fixed longitudinally upon the hub 33 by abutting the outer face of an annular portion 46 of hub 33 formed thereon. A

. nut 65 whereby either one or brake drum 49 may be mounted upon the annular portion 48 of the hub 33 and adapted to cooperate with a brake mechanism (not shown) of suitable design. Upon the bearing ring 46 there is journalled an inboard wheel 56, dish shaped in form and having an inwardly projecting hub 5| provided with a tapered bore to correspond with the tapered surface 41 ofbaring ring 46. A packing ring 52, set into a groove 53 in the inboard face of hub 6| and contacting a groove 54 inthe annular portion 46 of hub 33 serves to protect the tapered bearing of ring 46 from external dirt or foreign matter which might find entrance thereto through the clearance 55 between hub 5| and portion 48, which clearance is necessary to allow longitudinal movement or adjustment of wheel 56 on ring 46 to compensate for wear.

Means for driving the wheels 44 and 56 from the main hub 33 so as to permit a differential rotation are provided and as embodied comprise a differential pinion ring 66, mounted upon hub 33, inwhich are rotatably mounted a plurality of bevel pinions 6| adapted to rotate freely upon stub shafts 62 carried by the pinion ring 66. Pinion ring 66 may be formed as an outer and inner annulus 63, 64 connected by ribs 65, the space between the ends of the ribs providing a chamber 66 for receiving the pinions 6|. Stub shafts 62 may be set inbores formed in the outer and inner annuli 63, 64 and retained in place by a spring ring 61 carried in the bores of outer annulus 63 adjacent the ends of the stub shafts 62.

Means are provided for giving supplemental bearing support for the wheels 44 and 56 in addition to that afforded by bearing rings 46 and 46, and as embodied comprises an outwardly tapered bearing surface I6 formed on the outboard periphery of pinion ring annulus 63 upon which a correspondingly tapered portion 1| of. outboard wheel 44 bears. The inboard periphery of the annulus 63 is formed with a similar but oppositely directed tapered bearing surface 12 upon which bearsa correspondingly tapered portion 13 of inboard wheel 56. The outboard wheel 44 may be provided with a cylindrical portion I4 which bridges over the pinion ring 66 and may be recessed at I5 so as to permit the outer face of the inboard wheel 56 to be nested therein but not in direct contact therewith. A resilient packing ring 16 is interposed between the cylindrical portion I4 of wheel 44 and the nested portion ofwheel 56 to exclude foreign matter and retain lubricant 33 and adapted the pinions 6| and as Well as to allow limited movement of the two wheels towards each other as adjustment is made to compensate for wear of the wheel bearing sllrfaces. The wheels 44 and 56 are provided with spoke-like projections I1 and 16 which may be apertured, as at I6 and 86 to receive the usual rim bolts (not shown) by whichmounted upon the wheels.

Means are provided whereby the adjustment may be made of the tapered bearing ring-46 to compensate for bearing wear or other bearing maladjustment. As embodied, they comprise'a nut 65 threaded upon the outer end of main hub to press against and move inwardly the bearing ring 46. s, ifan excess of: clearance develops at any one 0 all of the tapered bearing surfaces 43, I6, 12 and 41, it may be reduced to proper dimensions by a tightening of the both of the wheels 44 and 56, with their associated parts, or. the bearing ring 46'alone will be moved slightly to the right (Fig. 1) and the bearing clearances thereby redefined.

Means are provided for transmitting the rotation of the main hub 33 to the pinion ring 66 and yet permit a limited longitudinal movement of ring 66 on hub 33 as the bearing wear adjustment .is made. As embodied, the pinion shafts 62 project inwardly from the bore of ring 66 and are provided with flattened sides 96 which, in operative positionrare parallel to the axis of the, wheels and engage a slot al formed in collar-s12 which'are fixed in hub 33. The length of slot 3| is greater than the diameter of stub shaft 62 and thereby permits the slight longitudinal movement of ring 66 necessary during bearing wear adjustment. To transmit a differential rotation tothe two wheels 44 and 66 from the rotation of pinion ring wheel a bevel ring gear 35 which meshes with drives its respective wheel, through clutch teeth 96 formed on the ring gear hub and engaging similar teeth formed on the interior of the wheel hubs 45 and 5|. The thrust of bevel g'ear action is transmitted through the wheel hubs and absorbed upon the tapered bearing rings 46 and 46. Thus, it will be seen that as the main hub 33 and pinion ring 66 rotate, this motion is transmitted to the wheels 44 and 56 through pinions 6| and ring gears 66 to whatever extent the road contact of the wheels and tires permit.

Referring now to Fig. 5 there is shown a modifled form of tapered bearing'ring construction as applied to the structure just described wherein the tapered bearing surfaces are between the rings and the main hub 33 rather than the rings and the wheels as previously described. As embodied, the inboard wheel hub 5| has a bearing ring I 66 keyed therein, the bore of which is a tapered bearing surface adapted to ride upon a correspondingly tapered surface |6| formed on the main hub 33. The outboard wheel hub 461s similarly provided with a bearingring I62, keyed thereto in the same manner as ring I66 is keyed to hub 5|. The bore of ring I62 is tapered in, the opposite direction from ring I66 and adapted to rideupon a correspondingly tapered surface |63 formed upon a nut I 64 threaded upon the end of main hub 33. The outer portion of nut I64 is split and provided with a clamp bolt I65 to retain it in the desired position of adjustment which the bearing clearances require.

ance requires correction, the

the rims may 66 there is provided in each usual king pin connection II2.

limited to the specific mechanisms shown and clamped, rotated upon its threads on hub 33 and reclamped, thereby taking up the undesired clearances by movement of rings I and I02 along tapered surfaces IIII and I03.

In Fig. 6 there is illustrated a non-driven front dual wheel assembly in which the outboard wheel may be journalled upon the-hub of the inboard wheel by a pair of oppositely tapered hearing rings adapted to adjustment for proper bearing clearance in a manner similar to that already 10 described. As embodied, a front axle beam IIII carries a dirigible stub axle III by means 6f the Upon axle III there is mounted, by means of the usual roller bearings I I3, II, a main hub II5 having a flange H6 at its inner end to which maybe bolted an inboard wheel and tire rim I IT, as by clamp bolts II8. A brake drum II9 may also be secured by cap screws I to flange II6.

Upon the inner and outer end of main hub I I5 20 there is keyed a split, tapered bearing ring I2I, the respective tapered bearing surfaces of which face towards each other. Joumaled upon bearing rings I2I by correspondingly tapered surfaces I22, I23 is an outboard wheel hub I24 25 which may be provided near its central portion with a flange or lugs I25 to which an outboard wheel and tire rim I26 may be attached by clamp bolts I21.

Means for adjusting the position of the outer bearing ring I2I to compensate for wear or other maladjustment is provided and as embodiedcomprises a retaining plate I28 secured to a shoulder portion I29 of main hub II5 by screws I30 and provided with a shim I3I.

The inner face of plate I28 contacts the outer bearing ring III and serves to hold it in the desired adjusted position. Plate I28 may be further provided with an inwardly extending rim I32 overlapping the end of outboard hub m and provided with a packing ring I33 to seal the tapered hearing I I 2I against ingress of foreign matter. The length of hub I24 is sufliciently shorter than the minimum adjustable distance between plate I28 and main hub flange II Ii to permit the movement of outer bearing ring I2I, by plate I28, towards the inner bearing ring I2I as compensation is made for maladjusted bearing clearances The invention in its broader aspects is not described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief Fr advantages;

What I claim is 1. A dual wheel assembly including in combination a support for a plurality of difierential pinions includng radial shafts extending from the support and movable axially of the support,

a ring surroundng the pinions, supporting the outer ends of the shafts and wheels having hubs at either side of the pinion ring, said hubs having tapered inner portions at each end and fitting over said ring at their adjacent ends, and tapered bearing members at the distant ends of the hubs for rotatably journalling the hubs with respect to the support. 7

2. A dual wheel assembly including in combination a support for a plurality of differential pinions including radial shafts extending from the support and movable axially of the support, a ring surrounding the pinions, supporting the outer ends of the shafts and wheels having hubs at pinions including radial shafts extending from the support and movable axially of the support, a ring surrounding the pinions, supporting the outer ends of the shafts and wheels having hubs at either side of the pinion ring; ring gears rotatable on said support, meshing with said pinions and connected one to each hub and forming a support for the adjacent hub ends on the pinion support, said hubs having tapered inner portions at each end and fitting over said ring at their adjacent ends, and tapered bearing members at the distant ends of the hubs for rotatably journailing the hubs with respect to"support.

4. A dual wheel assembly including in combination a support for a plurality of differential pinions including radial shafts extending from the support and movable axially of the support, a ring surrounding the pinions, supporting the outer ends of the shafts and wheels having hubs at either side of the pinion ring, ring gears rotatable on said support, meshing with said pinions and connected one to each hub, and forming a sup port for the adjacent hub ends on the pinion support, said hubs having tapered innerportions fitting over said ring at their adjacent ends, and bearing members at the distant ends of the hubs for rotatably journalling the hubs with respect to the support.

5. A dual wheel assembly including in combination a sleeve, a pair of side by side coaxial wheels having hubs mounted thereon for relative rotation, a pair of ring gears, one connected to each wheel hub and adjacent each other, a plurality of difierential pinions meshing with. the ring gears, radial pinion shafts movable axially of the sleeve and drivingly supported by the sleeve, and a ring engaging the outer ends of the shafts forming a thrust bearing for the pinions and I spacing the wheels apart at their hubs.

6. A dual wheel assembly including in combination a sleeve, a pair of side by side coaxial wheels having hubs mounted thereon for rela- 0 tive rotation, a pair of ring gears, one connected to each wheel hub and adjacent each other, each' of said ring gears having an integral shoulder extending between the hub and sleeve, 9. plurality of differential pinions meshing with the ring gears, radial pinion shafts movable axially of the sleeve and drivingly supported by the sleeve and a ring engaging the outer ends of the shafts forming a, thrust bearing for the pinions and spacing the wheels apart at their hubs.

7. A dual wheel assembly including in combination a sleeve, a pair of side by side coaxial wheels having hubs mounted thereon for relative rotation, a pair of ring gears, one connected to each wheel hub and adjacent each other, each of said ring gears having an integral shoulder extending between the hub and sleeve, a plurality of differential pinions meshing with the ring gears and radial pinion shafts movable axially of the sleeve and drivingly supported by the sleeve.

8. Adual wheel assembly including in combination a sleeve, a. pair of side by side coaxial wheelshaving hubs mounted thereon for independent rotation, a pair of spaced apart tapered bearing members, one for each wheel and means for axially moving one bearing relatively to the other to take up wear.

9. A dual Wheel assembly, including in combination a sleeve, a pair of side by side coaxial wheels having hubs mounted thereon for independent rotation, a pair of spaced apart tapered bearing members, at the distant ends of the hubs, said tapered bearing members being'tapered inwardly towards each other, differential gearing between the wheels at their adjacent hub portions, and means for holding the wheels and bearings against axial movement.

10. A dual wheel assembly including in combination a sleeve, a pair of side by side coaxial wheels having hubs mounted thereon for independent rotation, a pair of spaced apart tapered v bearingmembers at the distant ends of the hubs,

said tapered bearing members being tapered inwardly towards each other, and means for holding the wheels and bearings against axial movement.

11. A dual wheel assembly including in combination a pair of coaxial wheel hubs having hollow portions tapered eonvergingly outwardly, a plurality of differential pinions within said tapered hub portions, a relatively rotatable ring having a correspondingly tapered exterior surface, revolubly supporting said pinions and engaging the tapered hub portions and means preventing axial movement of the hubs.

12. A dual wheel assembly including in combination a pair of coaxial wheel hubs having hollow portions tapered convergingly outwardly, a plurality of differential pinions within said tapered hub "portions, a relatively rotatable ring having a correspondingly tapered exterior surface,,revolub1y supporting said pinions'and en- I gaging the tapered hub portions, ring gears connected with each hub and meshing with said pinions, and means preventing axial movement.

of the hubs.

13. 1} dual wheel assembly including in combination a pair of coaxial wheel hubshaving hollow portions tapered convergingly' outwardly; a

plurality of difierential pinions within said tanation a mounting, a pair of side by side, independently rotatable, coaxial wheel bodies having hubs, said wheels being rotatable with respect to each other and their mounting, means for holding the wheels against axial movement with respect to each other and their mounting and including tapered ,journal bearing members, inwardly tapered towards each other, spaced apart and at the innermost and outermost ends 01' the pair of wheel hubs for journalling the wheels for independent rotation.

' CHARLES S.'ASH. 

